VARANASI: Justice (retd) Giridhar Malviya, grandson of Banaras Hindu University founder Pt Madan Mohan Malviya was unanimously elected as the university‘s chancellor on Monday, breaking the tradition of election of royal family members to the office.

Vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar proposed Justice Malviya‘s name as the successor of Dr Karan Singh in the BHU court meeting on Monday.

BHU spokesperson Rajesh Singh said the proposal for Justice Malviya‘s name was unanimously supported by court members ending the possibility of election.

Justice Malviya said he spent his childhood on the campus and completed his education from BHU before he started practising in .

He termed the development as a reunion with the institution founded by his grandfather and looked after by his father Govind Malviya as vice-chancellor.

The election of new chancellor was being considered tough this time as members had proposed over 10 names for the office.

Apart from erstwhile king of Kashi Anant Narain Singh, former VCs including Hari Gautam, YC Simhadri and Panjab Singh, some members had also proposed the name of BJP MP , said Singh.

Until now, only members from royal families had been holding BHU chancellor‘s office.

BHU chancellor is considered to be an ornamental position as the person elected for this office heads the BHU court meets and presides over convocations. President of India is the visitor of the central university.